Inquest told how Daventry man died after losing control of his motorbike at roundabout

The junction or Royal Oak Way South and Leamington Way in Daventry

Published:06:30Thursday 03 March 2016

A Daventry man died after losing control of his motorbike at a roundabout an inquest has heard.

Matthew Nixon, aged 41 and from Middleton Road, on Middlemore in Daventry, died at the scene of the crash at the junction of Royal Oak Way South and Leamington Way on September 11 last year.

County coroner Anne Pember was told that Mr Nixon had gone out to buy beer on his Kawasaki motorbike, with his friend Jason Whalley as a passenger.

Mr Whalley told the inquest: “He was driving fine until we hit the straight roads – then he started to drive faster and faster.”

Crash investigator PC Jon Hoddle said his investigation showed that as Mr Nixon’s bike was heading down Royal Oak Way he had lost control and struck the kerb of the island dividing the road as it approached the roundabout.

The bike skidded along the kerb, went across the roundabout and hit the barrier.

Mr Nixon died at the scene from head and chest injuries.

Mr Whalley was thrown from the bike and suffered serious injuries.

PC Hoddle said the bike had no defects that could have contributed to the accident, but added that despite not having forensic evidence for the speed it was travelling, that: “There is evidence to suggest that the motorcycle was travelling in excess of the speed limit. The road surface was wet, so the stopping distance would have been effectively doubled.”

The inquest was told Mr Nixon had a history of addiction, and at the time of the crash was over the drink drive limit for alcohol, and also had heroin and cocaine in his system.

In a statement read out at the inquest Mr Nixon’s mother described her son saying: “Despite all he had done I loved him. He was a lovable rogue.

“I would give anything for him to walk back through my door, but I know this won’t happen.”

Ms Pember summed up by saying: “I’m sure he was doing what he loved – riding his motorbike.

“But whilst intoxicated with alcohol and having used heroin he lost control of his motorbike, failed to negotiate a roundabout, and collided with a barrier.

“What a shame it is that Mr Nixon chose to go out on his motorbike that night.”